Essex Community Messaging

This page contains extracts and links to Essex Community Messaging

09 / 2016

Police Estate

In October last year Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh and the then Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex announced plans to reduce the existing Police Estate from 80 to 30 buildings. These buildings cost £10 million a year in running costs and require a further £30 million of maintenance work to bring them up to standard. Essex Police can better spend some of this money to fight and prevent crime more effectively. In line with the Estate Programme several properties will be placed on the open market in the coming days. These are: Westcliff former Police Station – This Station in Claremont Road was closed to the public in 2011 and the building was closed down in September 2012, although it recently re-opened for a year or so whilst Southend Police Station was refurbished. Stansted Mountfitchet former Police Office - The Police Office in Hargrave Close had a publicly accessible front counter which closed in 2011 although the site remained in use until recently. Mistley former Police Station – The Police Station in New Road closed its front counter to the public in 2011. Ipswich Road former Police Office - The Police Office was previously open to the public for two hours each week but this service ceased in 2011. 3 La Plata Grove, Brentwood former police house - The property has only ever been used for residential purposes. Thaxted former Police Office - The police office has never been publicly accessible. Simon Curling, Essex Police’s Interim Head of Operational Estates, said: "The sale of these properties is part of our continuing programme to reduce the size of the current police estate, parts of which are ageing, under-used, in a bad state of repair and not fit for the purposes of modern policing. We will continue to ensure that the public and our partners are kept informed of any activity in the Estates Programme affecting their local area.”

Police and Crime Plan for Essex

Should more local, visible, accessible policing be a priority in the new Police and Crime Plan for Essex? Roger Hirst, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, wants to hear your views on the priorities for policing, crime prevention and community safety in our county. The seven proposed priorities are: 1. More local, visible and accessible policing. 2. Crack down on anti-social behaviour. 3. Be tough on domestic abuse. 4. Reverse the trend in serious violence. 5. Tackle gangs and organised crime. 6. Protect children and vulnerable people from harm. 7. Improve safety on our roads. There are also a series of proposed commitments linked to each of these priorities. Do you agree these are the correct priorities for Essex? You can have your say by reading the draft Police and Crime Plan and taking an online survey here: http://www.essex.pcc.police.uk/police-and-crime-plan-2016-engagement-and-online-survey/ Sending an email: policeandcrimeplan2016@essex.pnn.police.uk Or writing to: Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex 3 Hoffmanns Way Chelmsford Essex CM1 1GU The engagement process for the new Police and Crime Plan will end on October 7, 2016. An updated Police and Crime Plan will be taken to the Police and Crime Panel for their final comments at the end of October. It is anticipated that the new Police and Crime Plan for Essex will come into effect in early November 2016.

Power Failure - Call 105

Following on from our last email, you may have seen today’s launch of the new national power cut phone line – 105 – to help people contact the company that looks after their electricity network. This would be UK Power Networks for London, the East and South East of England.

The number, which is available to electricity customers in England, Scotland and Wales, will enable people to report or get information about power cuts as well as report damage to electricity power lines and substations that could put themselves, or someone else, in danger. 105 is funded and delivered by the electricity network operators, and is a first for the UK’s energy industry. As well as calling 105, people can find more information on the website: http://www.powercut105.com/

We would be incredibly grateful if you were able to promote the new number, perhaps on twitter or your website if you have one. Possible tweet may be something like:

·If you have a power cut, call 105 – a new, free service for people in England, Scotland and Wales. Find out more at www.powercut105.com

A message from Roger Hirst, Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex.

One of my key duties as Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex is to put together the strategic plan for the policing of our county in the interests of the public.For me, safe and secure communities are the bedrock on which we build success and well being for all.

The new Police and Crime Plan is relevant to all our lives. During my election campaign and since becoming PCC, I have listened to the people of our county. They are clear that more local, visible and accessible policing, and being tough on Anti-Social Behaviour are vitally important. This was reinforced at my first public meeting as PCC, held in Grays, where two Thurrock mothers made powerful and courageous comments about the impact of ASB on their families. These are the first two priorities in the new Plan, and mark a commitment to refocus some police resources in these important areas.

Some priorities build on the existing Police and Crime Plan, such as being tough on domestic abuse and improving the safety of our roads. Two further priorities highlight crucial work on increasingly important challenges: reversing the trend in serious violence, and tackling gangs and organised crime.

Finally, protecting children and vulnerable people will be a core priority. This will involve the police bringing criminals to justice and a drive to prevent crime and abuse from happening in the first place.

I want to hear your views. During September and early October 2016, I will be seeking your thoughts on the draft Police and Crime Plan through meetings, online engagement, and a dedicated address for correspondence.

You can also write to: Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex3 Hoffmanns WayChelmsford, Essex CM1 1GU

The engagement process for the new Police and Crime Plan will end on October 7, 2016. An updated Police and Crime Plan will be taken to the Police and Crime Panel for their final comments at the end of October. It is anticipated that the new Police and Crime Plan for Essex will come into effect in early November 2016.The full schedule of PCC public meetings can be seen here:http://www.essex.pcc.police.uk/events/